Category: Remembering

Remembering Stompin’ Tom Connors

Stompin tom connors in 2002 crop
Stompin tom connors in 2002 crop (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Canadian legend and troubadour Stompin’ Tom Connors passed way on March 6, 2013.  He was 77.  While he has had a long and great career, Canadians will always remember him for his classic “The Hockey Song“.  Give it a listen, it can’t help but put a smile on your face.

 

 

He got the nickname from his habit of stomping the heel of his boot while he played.  He was a staple on Canadian TV, not only having his own shows, but also by supplying theme songs for various shows and his talent for creating anthems, such as The Hockey Song.  Here is another fine example of his populist song writing skills, “Bud The Spud“.

 

 

In his later years, he pushed away from the limelight.  He had a few disputes with such institutions as the Juno Awards (he returned all his Juno’s to protest their qualification guidelines) and the CBC who would not air a music special about him.  In response to their refusal, he simply stated:

 

“As far as I’m concerned, if the CBC, our own public network, will not reconsider their refusal to air a Stompin’ Tom special, they can take their wonderful offer of letting me sing a song as a guest on some other program and shove it.”.

 

Rest in Peace Stompin’ Tom.

 

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Remembering Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner

Ohio Players~Funk on Fire:The Mercury Anthology
Ohio Players~Funk on Fire:The Mercury Anthology (Photo credit: bamalibrarylady)

 

Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner passed away on January 26, 2013.  He was 69.  Sugarfoot was with Ohio Players from its inception in 1959 until he left in 1985 to go solo.  He played guitar and sang for the band.  They played a version of funk that hit pretty much the same sound, and was very popular during the disco era of the 70’s.  Great stuff that makes you want to jump up and move.  The track I have pick features the band on “Midnight Special” with Wolfman Jack introducing them as they play “Love Rollercoaster“.  We old-timers will remember all the above.

 

 

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Remembering Donald Byrd

Cover of "Places & Spaces"
Cover of Places & Spaces

On our recent trip to Spain, we were sitting in a small tapas bar in the Born area of Barcelona.  We were enjoying some great food, and some excellent wine, when a song came on that made us both go, “Who in the heck is that”.  We asked our server who it was and he went to find out for us.  Turns out that it was Donald Byrd, who, unfortunately, passed away on February 4, 2013 at he age of 80.  Having just discovered him (where was he hiding), I was quite saddened by this news,  A great trumpet player, his career spanned 7 decades and included, besides his solo work, stints and recordings with a who’s who of the jazz and blues world.  John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock may ring a few bells with you.

He recorded over 40 albums on his own and many more as a sideman.  An outstanding career.  The song I have chosen in memorial, is the one we heard in Barcelona, “Falling (like dominoes)” of his Places and Spaces album, which was recorded in 1975.

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Remembering Raylene Rankin

RayleneRankin4

Back in our slightly younger days back in the town of Martensville, Saskatchewan, this song used to get a big rise out of the semi, mostly and hardly inebriates at town functions.  Sadly, Raylene Rankin passed away on September 30th after a battle with cancer.  Thanks for the memories Raylene.

 

Remembering Von Freeman

von freeman have no fear
von freeman have no fear (Photo credit: cultchas)

 

Tenor jazz saxophone player Von Feeman died on August 11, 2012 at 88.  I love Saxophone and jazz, together a deadly combination.  Von was one of the great innovators and creators of this sound in, what is known as, the Chicago School.  I have attached 2 videos, one is live in Chicago in 1988, the second is Von playing last year at almost 90.  Incredible sound, great player.

 

 

and the second

 

 

Remembering Stuart Swanlund

Southern rockers Marshall Tucker Band in concert
Southern rockers Marshall Tucker Band in concert (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

August 4, 2012 saw the passing of guitar player Stuart Swanlund.  He was 54.  Stuart played guitar with the Marshall Tucker Band from 1983 until his passing.  The band’s heyday was the 1970’s, but he was a great addition to the later version of the band. Here is the band playing Walk Outside The Line.

Remembering Johnnie Bassett

2006 Great Lakes Folk Festival
2006 Great Lakes Folk Festival (Photo credit: CedarBendDrive)

Blues great Johnnie Bassett died on August 4, 2012 at the age of 76.  He was a much in demand electric blues guitarist and a singer-songwriter.  In addition to his session work, he toured with such notables as Tina Turner and Little Willie John.  In session, he played with the Miracles and others.  Here is one of his own compositions played live with the band, Hideaway.

Party My Blues Away

Remembering Jimmy Jones

01 - Jimmy Jones
01 – Jimmy Jones (Photo credit: Bradford Timeline)

 

Singer Songwriter Jimmy Jones died on August 2, 2012.  He was 75.  He was a Sam Cooke style singer, with a great falsetto.  He is best known for his huge hit from 1960 “Handy Man“, which reached number 2  in 1960.  His other hit was Good Timin’, which rose to number 3, also in 1960.  After these 2 successes, he continued to record and write.  His influence has been noted by such people as Del Shannon.

 

Handy Man

 

 

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Good Timin

 

 

Remembering Darryl Cotton

Australian singer, actor and television personality Darryl Cotton passed away at 62 on July 27.  As I researched his career, I was amazed at the depth and connections he had.  He played with Rick Springfield, was involved with a group that morphed into the Little River Band, song-wrote for Donny and Marie Osmond, Olivia Newton-John, Shaun Cassidy, The New Seekers and Engelbert Humperdink.

Enjoy his 1980 hit “Same Old Girl”.

 

Remembering Don Bagley

Jazz bassist, Don Bagley, left us on July 26, 2012.  He was 85.  Born in Salt Lake City, he played with such greats as Shorty Sherock, Bill Holman and Stan Kenton.  He also did session work with Nat King Cole and Maynard Ferguson.  The tribute song I have chosen is a performance by Julie London, with Don being the only player accompanying her.